Nomo makes 1st spring start against majors

SURPRISE, Ariz. – Hideo Nomo made his first appearance against a major league lineup this spring and Tadahito Iguchi hit an RBI double as the Chicago White Sox beat the Kansas City Royals 6-5 in an exhibition game Monday.

Hideo Nomo pitches against the Kansas City Royals during
a preseason game in Florida.

Nomo, who has signed a minor league deal with the White Sox, allowed two runs and three hits — all in the first inning — in two innings of play while striking out two and walking none.

Nomo gave up back-to-back doubles to Mark Grudzielanek and Doug Mientkiewicz before Angel Berroa added an RBI single off the veteran Japanese right-hander. Nomo retired the side in order in the second.

Second baseman Iguchi doubled to left in his first at-bat in going 1-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt.

Elsewhere, So Taguchi was 1-for-3 in the St. Louis Cardinals’ 8-1 loss to the Atlanta Braves and Kenji Jojima struck out three times in as many at-bats as the Seattle Mariners fell 7-1 to the Oakland Athletics.

Right-hander Takashi Saito was rocked for two runs on four hits in one inning in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 11-5 win over the Washington Nationals. New York Yankees outfielder Hideki Matsui had the day off.